- It could be months before a warranty is used, so plenty of time for homeowners to forget the agent.
- Think about how much your clients will brag on you when they use their Amazon Echo with friends.
- Finding clients a first home can win you a lasting place in their hearts, but good closing gifts help, too.
An experienced agent knows the impact of referrals and the importance of following through after the sale with an appropriate closing gift. In fact, it’s too important to put on autopilot.
The right closing gift will fulfill two purposes: to show your appreciation to clients and celebrate their success — and also to keep your name top-of-mind whenever the topic of real estate arises.
The closing gift can be a smart component of your drip marketing and referral strategy. For this reason, a long-term gift is a great solution. It reminds your clients about you and the services you can provide over time. Each time they use the gift, you have again made contact with that client.
Although the home warranty is often chosen as a closing gift, and is appreciated by most clients, it falls short when it comes to keeping the agent at top-of-mind. There is a missed opportunity. It could be months or even years before the warranty is used, so there’s plenty of time for the homeowner to forget about the agent.
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Giving a closing gift that keeps on giving is a smart strategy that many trendsetting agents are utilizing to stay top-of-mind over a longer period. Use this curated list of modern after-the-sale gifts to inspire your next thoughtful — and long-lasting — closing gift.
For the tech lovers
Do you have those clients who love the latest gadgets? You know, the ones who will wait all night in the Apple Store line to get the latest i-whatever. Here are a few ideas for your tech-savvy homebuyers.
Smart thermostat
Does your client absolutely need a thermostat that programs itself, automatically responds to changes in season and learns the user’s preferences? Obviously not. Would they love to have one and experience warm feelings about their amazing real estate agent when they use it? Um, yes! It’s a practical gift that also has a high cool factor your techy clients will appreciate, and they’ll see it nearly every day.
A digital butler
You could also consider Hello Alfred, a community butler service your clients can access via their smartphones. It enables busy professionals to order household services including grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning and trash removal. File this under “tech-savvy” clients — but really, who wouldn’t love that?
Voice-command help
Another great idea for the tech-savvy client? Amazon Echo. This hands-free speaker that you control with your voice can be used for everything from music and information to controlling your household lighting, turning on your TV or even starting your coffee maker. And because Echo is still a relatively new technology, you can count on your clients showing her off to their friends — “Yeah, that was a gift from my agent!”
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For the traditionalist
There are plenty of thoughtful options for your clients who might not get too charged up about a gadget.
Monthly clubs
Consider the fruit-of-the-month club from Harry and David. It’s the best-known of this type of gift. Harry and David has been in the business for a long time and is great at what it does. And obviously it does more than fruit. How about a dessert-of-the-month? Or wine? It’s easy to tailor this gift to suit most any client.
Gift subscriptions
A relative newcomer to the gift subscription game, The Bouqs Company specializes in flowers. It offers the option for regular deliveries, set up in advance. So agents can arrange for monthly deliveries that will brighten their clients’ days. Someone with a green thumb might love the idea of a plant-of-the-month club.
Door-to-table food
Dinner-to-your-door delivery services such as Plated, HelloFresh and Blue Apron are another option for the traditionalist — with a twist.
For first-time homebuyers
Helping clients buy their first home can win you a lasting place in their hearts, but a good closing gift helps nourish that regard.
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Cooking classes
Are your sellers especially thrilled with their gourmet kitchen? They might enjoy some fun cooking classes. These can be ongoing or part of a series. Sur la Table offers a variety of class types and durations at locations across the country. Top local restaurants and bakeries might offer interesting opportunities as well.
Something to remember the occasion
To help commemorate this huge milestone in your clients’ lives, you might also consider commissioning a painting or sketch of their new home by a local artist. This is something they’ll keep with them for a lifetime, and it will be a thoughtful reminder of how exciting this time was and the agent who helped them.
Help with home responsibilities
First-time homeowners will also have a lot of new — and often foreign — responsibilities. One of those is yard maintenance. Why not work with a local lawn care provider to set up ongoing yard maintenance for the first few months? I guarantee this gift will be well-received and that your clients will think of you every time they smell the fresh cut grass.
For the neighborhood newcomers
For this type of client, a great gift is one that will help sellers explore and enjoy their new community. Give them opportunities to discover the things that make their town a great place to live, and make it an ongoing experience that will call the agent to mind on a regular basis.
Kid attractions
If the client has young children, think about family activities. Perhaps a membership at the local zoo? Gift certificates for local amusement parks or other attractions?
Local sports
Tickets to a local sporting event are a sure winner if the client has an interest in sports. If they’re interested in culture, give a membership to the local museum or a great upcoming concert series. These last options have the added benefit of demonstrating your support for the arts in your community.
Redefining the modern closing gift
With these points in mind, it’s easy to see that personalizing the closing gift — and ensuring it’s a gift that keeps on giving — is not only a good strategy, but it’s also one that needn’t cost a lot of extra time or money.
Shannon Bloemker is the CEO and founder of Glasshouse. Follow her on Twitter.
